Colombian singer, Shakira, could stand trial over alleged tax evasion of 14.5 million euros ($17 million) in Spain. A judge at a court in Esplugues de Llobregat, Judge Marco Jesus Juberias, ruled.
According to the investigating magistrate, there is “sufficient evidence” to hold a trial for Shakira’s alleged tax evasion from 2012-2014.
Juberias wrote that Shakira lived more than 200 days in Spain in each of those three years. This made her liable to pay taxes in the country. The investigation so far revealed Spain’s tax agency and Shakira’s lawyers have argued over the meaning of “main residence.”. Shakira’s team argued that her main residence was in the Bahamas. However, local media stated that she has a home in the Barcelona area. The singer shares the home with her partner, FC Barcelona football defender Gerard Pique, with whom she has two children.
The judge also wrote that Shakira and a financial adviser used a series of companies in off-shore tax havens to attempt to hide the sources of her income during those years.
Reacting to the ruling, Shakira’s representatives stated on Thursday:
“This is an expected step in this process. The legal team maintains its trust and collaboration with the Justice and won’t offer any further comments on this matter.”
The ruling was dated July 20. The judge gave the parties to the case 10 business days to submit additional arguments, including to argue to shelve the case.
According to the Spanish tax code, anyone who resides in Spain for at least six months and a day (or 183 days) in a given year is liable to pay taxes in Spain.
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